Sikyon - 2016

Ancient Sikyon. I. Lolos (ASA) reports on continuing excavation at the site in 4 (sic) locations NW and SE of the agora.

In the first location excavation took place in the NW room where, in the NE corner, a low platform (0.93m x 1.76m x 0.10m high) was excavated, perhaps a couch, which was dated probably to the first half of the 2^nd c. AD. Pottery dating the 2 SE rooms adjacent to the S was still more recent (end of the 2^nd/beginning of 3^rd c. AD) indicating continued activity. The large space in the NE corner of the complex dated later (to the mid-5^th c. AD) and contained transported soil with potsherds and other objects dated to the 7^th c. AD, i.e. early Byzantine. In the E wall of the large room was found built into or hidden a glass vessel of later date and amphorae from Crete, Syria and Palestine of the same date, a clear indication, according to the excavator, of trade in wine and other liquids in the same later periods. In the same complex, in the centre of the E side, investigation of the cistern continued, determining more precisely its dimensions and those of its paved floor. Its final use was placed at the beginning of the 2^nd c. AD.

In the SE part of the complex (Fig. 1), in 2 rectangular spaces of approximately similar size bounded by walls, 2 kilns for cooking vessels were found and investigated; they dated to the 1^st and 2^nd c. AD. Their products, as appears from the remains from the kiln, were cups, jugs and amphorae. One kiln was circular; the second piriform.

The third location of excavation was the small sanctuary north of the palaestra uncovered in 2014. Its SE corner was revealed, as well as pottery in its NW angle, mostly skyphoi and kantharoi, dating to the Hellenistic period. Outside and to the N was found in situ an uninscribed pedestal, probably for an offering.

In a fourth location the foundations of a large room were uncovered dating to the 1^st c. AD. S of this space a well was found, whose upper fill dated to the end of the 1^st c. AD.

In a fifth location were found foundations of structures whose construction – on the basis of ceramics found at the level of the foundations – dated to the 1^st c. BC. Beneath the foundations were further, older buildings which remain to be investigated.